Find your next favourite story now
Login

Plug your "Spooky Tale" here

last reply
32 replies
1.7k views
2 watchers
8 likes
Crazy old ape
0 likes

Rather than burying our announcements of our Spooky Tales competition entries in the comp announcement thread, let's have a thread for it. Post a link and tell us a bit about your "Spooky Tale"

My entry is The Empty Office. As a desk jockey myself, the idea of dealing with strange, spooky goings on in an office has long been an idea floating in my head. There's still this idea about going to the washroom and finding myself in another place together that I need to get to. However, this one went in another direction entirely. As Molly has already commented, there's a Twilight Zone vibe to it which was not necessarily conscious, but I was very happy when I realized it was there as I wrote and edited the piece.


A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

Active Ink Slinger
1 like

May as well give my little offering a plug. It's not very good but it's all I got. After posting it I thought of a better one. I will save that for another day. A Village in Cornwall

Chasing Dragons
1 like

Alright, I'm game. Mine is up now. It is a tale about a... oh no! If you want to know, you will have to read it! 🤣😂👍

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/a-matter-of-time

If anyone wishes to find the beginning of this epic saga, here it is:
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/drama/the-nurses.aspx

However, since this story is now available in paperback, only the first few chapters remain. Buy at:

https://www.vbay.info/thenurses

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

0 likes

Just about to read yours, Anna smile 

Mine is currently a gripping tale entitled “Writer’s Block”. It’s truly disturbing and incredibly short. Watch this space :) 

Active Ink Slinger
1 like

I hardly need to plug my own story with kindly folk like Mendalla around. But walking blindly into this spot I am most grateful and can now understand why the story has fewer viewers than others. Thank you, Mendalla. The historical background to my story owes much to the influence of Henrietta Fielding. Also, I just got started with no real idea of direction when I asked Anna May Zing if she thought a Spooky tale could have a happy ending with just a touch of remaining mystery. From that moment it took flight, and just made the length requirement without any cutting. So, yes, please try it, if you have the time. Here it is:

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/supernatural/out-of-the-lake

Concluding chapter (16) of THE HIGH AND THE HUMBLE in situ.

2

Chasing Dragons
0 likes

Quote by redwriter

I hardly need to plug my own story with kindly folk like Mendalla around. But walking blindly into this spot I am most grateful and can now understand why the story has fewer viewers than others. Thank you, Mendalla. The historical background to my story owes much to the influence of Henrietta Fielding. Also, I just got started with no real idea of direction when I asked Anna May Zing if she thought a Spooky tale could have a happy ending with just a touch of remaining mystery. From that moment it took flight, and just made the length requirement without any cutting. So, yes, please try it, if you have the time. Here it is:

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/supernatural/out-of-the-lake

And so, you knocked the ball out of the park, Jim. Happy to be of assistance. You have shown that spooky does not necessarily mean horror or violence.

If anyone wishes to find the beginning of this epic saga, here it is:
https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/drama/the-nurses.aspx

However, since this story is now available in paperback, only the first few chapters remain. Buy at:

https://www.vbay.info/thenurses

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." George Santayana

Crazy old ape
0 likes

Quote by AnnaMayZing

Quote by redwriter

I hardly need to plug my own story with kindly folk like Mendalla around. But walking blindly into this spot I am most grateful and can now understand why the story has fewer viewers than others. Thank you, Mendalla. The historical background to my story owes much to the influence of Henrietta Fielding. Also, I just got started with no real idea of direction when I asked Anna May Zing if she thought a Spooky tale could have a happy ending with just a touch of remaining mystery. From that moment it took flight, and just made the length requirement without any cutting. So, yes, please try it, if you have the time. Here it is:

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/supernatural/out-of-the-lake

And so, you knocked the ball out of the park, Jim. Happy to be of assistance. You have shown that spooky does not necessarily mean horror or violence.

I have always held that spooky is more about the uneasy sense that something is askew than about violence or gore. It's a sub-genre of horror in that is about fear, but it is more the little shiver up the spine kind than the jump scare or gross out. So far, I think this comp has handled that very well (though I have not read all the stories).

In some ways, I feel like I got ahead of the game last year. My entry in the Cheer to 10 Years Full Length comp would have been perfect for this one. It got a top ten finish and an RR in that one, but might have done even better in this one.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/something

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

Active Ink Slinger
1 like

Where have all the spooks got to? Just over one week to deadline and only seven entries so far. Maybe there will be a last minute avalanche. But it just occurred to me, spooks always wait for the 'dead'-line!

Concluding chapter (16) of THE HIGH AND THE HUMBLE in situ.

2

Active Ink Slinger
0 likes

I’ve just looked over mine again. To be honest, I’m a little embarrassed that it is still at number one. I hope that changes soon. Even though the public vote isn’t taken into account, it seems odd to be placed at the top. I’m sure it’s only because I got mine in first. A day after, I thought of a much better one. It wasn’t suitable for here so I put it on the other place. It did manage to shock those who read it. I hope we do get a lot more entries on here. It seems that the readership on both sites is down at the moment.

Shy Scribbler
1 like

Hi! I submitted my scribbles. It is called "Just a Girl Who Loves Cats" and will be in the Horror genre once published. It's weird. Haha! 🤣 I was trying to channel my inner "Poe", but it's more like "Poo". 🤣 😳 🤣

Y'alls entries are fabulous though!! 😀

Just a simple girl from Kentucky scribbling her way through this great big world.

Crazy old ape
0 likes

Quote by WriterGirl

Hi! I submitted my scribbles. It is called "Just a Girl Who Loves Cats" and will be in the Horror genre once published. It's weird. Haha! 🤣 I was trying to channel my inner "Poe", but it's more like "Poo". 🤣 😳 🤣

Y'alls entries are fabulous though!! 😀

Now you have me wanting to write a humourous horror story about Edgar Allan Poo. It will probably stink, though. 🤣

"Quoth the raven,

Where's the loo?"

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

Shy Scribbler
0 likes

Quote by Mendalla

Quote by WriterGirl

Hi! I submitted my scribbles. It is called "Just a Girl Who Loves Cats" and will be in the Horror genre once published. It's weird. Haha! 🤣 I was trying to channel my inner "Poe", but it's more like "Poo". 🤣 😳 🤣

Y'alls entries are fabulous though!! 😀

Now you have me wanting to write a humourous horror story about Edgar Allan Poo. It will probably stink, though. 🤣

"Quoth the raven,

Where's the loo?"

Do it!!! lol

Just a simple girl from Kentucky scribbling her way through this great big world.

Crazy old ape
0 likes

Quote by WriterGirl

Hi! I submitted my scribbles. It is called "Just a Girl Who Loves Cats" and will be in the Horror genre once published. It's weird. Haha! 🤣 I was trying to channel my inner "Poe", but it's more like "Poo". 🤣 😳 🤣

Y'alls entries are fabulous though!! 😀

I enjoyed it. The Poe vibe is definitely there.

And I am now caught up on the entries to date. Here's hoping for more to read soon.

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

Crazy old ape
0 likes

Quote by Mendalla

Three more entries since this thread was last updated. Had to brush coarse white hairs off one, though.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/mystery/the-road-not-traveled (JamesPBear)

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/dark-image (TomEccleston)

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/tales-from-the-crypt-downunder-edition (curiousannie)

Got caught up with these three. An interesting set to say the least. Well worth your time if you haven't caught up with them yet.

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.

1 like

Quote by Mendalla

And story number 13 (oooo, spooky), from Ping, is up and it's a real barn-burner. Mad scientists, disease conspiracies, and horrible death await. And, yet, a remarkably personal touch so that we do feel for the protagonist.

https://www.storiesspace.com/stories/horror/innocent-until-proven-gullible

Sound great smile Finally submitted mine so I'll read the rest of the entries now. I'll start with Ping's...

1 like

I'm not a fan of spooky stories, so mine actually has a happy ending. And there are elements of truth in it – although I'll not tell you where!

It's set in Ireland, it is, and tells the story of a lass who desperately needs help to avoid her own death – and doesn't know it.

Find it here: The Road Not Traveled

And my thanks to all the kindly folk who have already set eyes on it!

Addicted to words, read and written.

Latest in the Bear & Girl story arc: Girl, Not Frog

Writing down under
0 likes

I should mention my entry, Tales From the Crypt: Downunder Edition which, while not quite as late as Violet's was a close run thing. Some of you may know my friend Hannah (Palindromeredux) who sadly has not been online for six months. She is the cleverest comic writer, her stories redolent of cultural icons and especially horror movies. I usually try a couple of different things in competition stories. This time it was (a la Hannah) the integration of movie references into a story line in a seamless way and capturing the chaotic stream of consciousness of a dream. I have loved the stories I have read so far, (I have three or four to go.) Fabulous writing all round

My latest story, Mardi Gras Competition: Sydney's Mardi Gras: We Shall Overcome

Some earlier stories:

Spooky Tales competition: Tales From the Crypt: Downunder Edition

Tam-challenge Micro: Under the Red Hoodie 

Maybe my best story: Finding Pride on Oxford Street



Magnificent Bastard
0 likes

Quote by CuriousAnnie

I should mention my entry, Tales From the Crypt: Downunder Edition

Okay, fine. Verbs, ya big chicken. Annie, you have a dirty mind. I’ve seen it 😇

Fine. Double fine. I’ll bring it up.

The double entendre of this thread’s title is hilarious! If Vanessa was here, she’d be on top of this, like a something on a subthing. 😳

Iconoclastically incorrigible or just a silly dumb ass...
0 likes

Only just ventured into the forum to find I don't need to promote my story, Dark Image, because Mendalla already did it for me. Thank you!

Really enjoying the creativity in the stories on display. Some absolute crackers.

Crazy old ape
0 likes

Quote by TomEccleston

Only just ventured into the forum to find I don't need to promote my story, Dark Image, because Mendalla already did it for me. Thank you!

Really enjoying the creativity in the stories on display. Some absolute crackers.

Yeah, I wanted to make sure this comp, and the stories, got as much attention as possible. The comp theme was, in case you haven't noticed, very near and dear to my heart. Horror and ghost stories are among my favorite things to read and write.

A mighty warrior meets an unusual challenger. The Last Challenge of Jadek Prynn.